"Kanzaki! Strike him out!"
"Finish him!"
"Let's go, Ryou!"
The shouts of his teammates echoed from behind. Kanzaki Ryou lifted his chin slightly, eyes steady on Harada Masatoshi.
He fired the third pitch.
A blazing fastball right down the middle.
Harada's eyes widened.
A center Straight? No… this has to be a Two-seamer!
He committed fully, swinging hard at the expected inward dip—
CRACK!
The ball shot straight into Miyuki's glove.
Not a Two-seam.
A pure center-cut Four-seam.
Harada's face twisted in shock.
He'd been baited. Completely.
"Strike! Strikeout!"
Harada glared at Kanzaki—but his real hatred locked onto Miyuki.
That smug catcher had played him.
"Hehe."
Miyuki rose with the ball in hand and smirked.
"Harada-senpai… it's time for you to go down."
"You little—!"
Harada almost swung his bat at Miyuki's head.
Only Harada's last shred of sanity stopped him.
After a long exhale, he grudgingly walked off the field.
"YEAH!!"
Kanzaki and Miyuki high-fived, energy surging as the triumphant Seidou dugout roared.
Before stepping inside, Kanzaki glanced up toward the stands—
Kanzaki Kumiko waved her banner wildly.
"Kanzaki, how was Inashiro's lineup?"
Coach Kataoka's deep voice cut in.
Kanzaki glanced at Miyuki, then answered calmly:
"They're strong… but I'm fine."
Coach nodded once.
"Then I'll leave it to you. Bring the championship back to Seidou."
"Yes, Coach!"
Just hearing the words lit a fire in Kanzaki.
He knew he'd pitch deep into this game—but being told directly that the championship was in his hands made his blood burn hotter.
He stripped off his pitching glove, pulled on a pair of thin black batting gloves, grabbed his helmet, and stepped out.
On the field, Narumiya Mei—perhaps triggered by Kanzaki's dominance—pitched with ferocity, immediately striking out Shida Shota.
Kanzaki high-fived Shida as he stepped into the box. He was now batting in Nanjo's spot.
The stadium buzzed.
Kanzaki Ryou vs. Narumiya Mei.
Two rookie monsters.
Two future aces.
And their first direct clash.
Come on, Little Blondie… let me break your Dao heart.
Kanzaki smirked, eyes locking with Mei's.
Tch. Thinking you can hit my ball? Dream on.
I'll strike you out and glue that grin shut!
The second their gazes met, Kanzaki felt a spike of resentment from Mei.
What the—? All I did was call him Blondie a few times. Why does he hate me this much?
He didn't have time to dwell on it.
Mei pitched.
CRACK!!
Kanzaki swung at a low ball—
and connected.
The ball shot left.
Seidou's dugout jumped.
But Inashiro's shortstop cut it off in a perfect play.
The throw to first—
Kanzaki sprinted, full throttle.
"Hurry!"
"Faster!"
He dove—
hands slapping the bag a split second before the ball hit the glove.
"SAFE!!"
The Seidou dugout erupted.
"That speed!"
"He hit Mei's ball on the first pitch!"
"Monster rookie!"
Kanzaki stood and pumped a fist at his teammates.
Behind him, the crowd murmured.
"That pitch wasn't good."
"Yeah, look—138 km/h only."
On the mound, Narumiya Mei's face twisted into a mix of shock and rage.
Not anger at being hit—
Anger that he had thrown such a weak pitch.
Harada Masatoshi stepped forward—
then froze.
Mei's breathing calmed.
Expression returned to normal.
He was back.
Harada nodded.
Good. That's the Mei I know.
Yuki Tetsuya stepped into the batter's box next.
Cleanup hitter Azuma Kiyokuni waited behind him.
Inashiro was in danger—
runner on first, and Seidou's core approaching.
Kanzaki stood on first and called, "Senpai! Go for it!"
Mei ignored him completely, locking his gaze on Yuki.
"Strike!"
"Strike!"
Two strikes in a flash—Yuki missed one and fouled one.
Meanwhile, Kanzaki subtly looked left and right.
Everyone's eyes were glued to Mei.
Quietly—
Kanzaki crept several more steps toward second base.
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